I was at the vaccination center at the end of April, and I haven’t written about it yet. I attended a consultation. The essence of this conversation was that I received the necessary information about the dangers lurking for me, and then I had to decide whether to request the vaccine just mentioned.
Dengue fever
Dengue fever is a viral disease spread mainly by the “Aedes aegypti” mosquito. The most common symptoms of the disease include high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and skin rashes. In severe cases, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever can develop, which can cause internal bleeding and even death. There is currently no specific cure for Dengue Fever, and treatment is mainly aimed at relieving symptoms. The best way to prevent it is to avoid mosquito bites and reduce the mosquito population.
The first infection can be cured in about 2-3 weeks. It is not pleasant, but it will pass. The second infection is certainly more risky and has more serious complications. The third one almost kills everyone. “You see, this is not a funny disease! Do you need to get vaccinated?” These questions arose after every potential source of danger. Of course, I asked for the vaccine.
Rabies
A question arose as to whether I had ever been to an Indian or Asian cultural environment. Not yet. All you need to know about these areas is that animals live freely here. In the immediate vicinity of people. There are no kennels, no animal care in the form we are used to. So I will never know whether the animal living around me is rabid or not.
Rabies is a viral, fatal disease that is mainly spread by bites from infected animals, most often dogs or bats. The virus attacks the nervous system and can cause severe neurological symptoms, such as confusion, seizures, and paralysis. The incubation period can last for weeks or months, but once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. Rabies can be prevented with a vaccine, which must be given immediately after a bite to prevent infection. For this reason, it is extremely important to take all suspicious animal bites seriously and seek medical attention.
It’s not funny. I asked to get this vaccine too.
Hepatitis A+B
Hepatitis A and B are viral infections that attack the liver, but they are spread in different ways. Hepatitis A is mainly transmitted through contaminated food or water, while Hepatitis B is spread through blood, body fluids or through sex. Both diseases can cause fever, fatigue, jaundice and abdominal pain, but Hepatitis B is more serious, even causing chronic liver disease. Fortunately, there is an effective vaccine against both types. Good hygiene and timely vaccinations play a big role in prevention.
Everyone has an opinion about Thailand and the “or sexually transmitted” clause. On the contrary, the doctor said that pretty much everyone in Asian countries is a carrier. So, if a doctor examines me without gloves, I’ve already contracted the infection. I could see that this was no joke, so I asked for the vaccine.
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease that is transmitted by mosquito bites, mainly in tropical areas such as Africa and South America. The disease initially presents with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache and muscle aches. In severe cases, it can cause liver damage, leading to jaundice and internal bleeding, hence the name. There is a safe and effective vaccine against yellow fever that provides long-term protection. Proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required for entry into some countries.
I was given a vaccination booklet. This will contain the unique identifier of each vaccination, plus the date of vaccination and the doctor’s stamp. I asked if I would always have to show this booklet. No, I don’t have to, as long as I can show it digitally. There is one exception, and that is yellow fever. This vaccination cannot be proven with a digital image, only by showing the original book.
As you can see, this vaccination is not required for my current trip, but since my plans include living in Africa, I requested this vaccination as well. If I remember correctly, it wasn’t mentioned here that this is not a funny thing. But I could already feel it!
Other
There are 5 vaccines that provide adequate immunity with two injections. There is only one that provides lifelong protection with 3 injections. In this case, two injections will protect me for 10 years, and with the third injection I will be protected forever. That is, until my death! The question was asked whether I would request the third injection. I requested it, even though a single injection costs 170 USD. I told the doctor that I probably wouldn’t regret this money on my deathbed.
That day, when I was there, I received two injections. I will go to the vaccination center three more times, and I will be richer by four injections each time. The doctor compiled my vaccination calendar according to the vaccination schedule. That way, each vaccination will be administered at the appropriate time, and I will receive each one before I leave.
I’ve made a table of what to expect. The prices are based on information gathered from other websites, but they give a good idea of the range.
Not a joke
I told the doctor that she had said it wasn’t funny so many times that I was really waiting for her to tell me about a joke vaccine. There is no joke vaccine, I asked. There isn’t one! There was a simple answer.
However, the doctor mentioned that the reaction of a good part of the people sitting in my chair, after listening to the information, is that they would rather not go anywhere. I assured her that there was nothing that would deter me from my goal.
I didn’t ask the doctor, but ChatGPT now, when I’m writing that post. Why is it necessary to get vaccinated before longer trips abroad?
Vaccinations are necessary before longer trips abroad because infectious diseases occur in some destination countries that are rare or non-existent in our country. Travelers often have no natural protection against these pathogens, so they can easily get sick. Vaccinations help prevent serious, even life-threatening diseases, such as yellow fever, hepatitis, and rabies. In addition, some countries may require proof of certain vaccinations to enter. Vaccinations not only protect travelers’ health, but also prevent the spread of diseases.
I’ve been asked this question several times, and I’ve given a similar answer.
Water
We also talked a little about nutrition and water consumption. I learned that the water flora is completely different in Thailand than at home. That is, no matter what I do, I will get dehydrated. However, if I plan on staying there for such a long time, it will be advisable to get used to drinking tap water. This has to be started very moderately. I told the doctor that I cannot interpret the word moderate in itself. What does this mean? We are talking about 1-2 dl of water a day. Her eyes widened quite a bit! No way! In the beginning, it will be enough if you rinse your toothbrush with tap water, and that will have the effect. I learned that if I eat fruit washed with tap water, I will have problems with it too.
Basically, there is no need to worry about this problem. The result will only be that I will not go anywhere. Except for the toilet. However, the heat and the constant loss of fluids can cause discomfort, such as the depletion of minerals from my body. So it will be worth preparing a few medications in advance.
We discussed that next time we will put together my travel medicine cabinet. The specialist cleared up the fog surrounding the topic a little. It is true that there are pharmacies everywhere, but it will take some time for me to recognize the active ingredients and names. That is why it is more advisable for me to prepare with the most basic medications at home.
So I received very thorough information. I know what to do, with this topic I really have no choice but to go through the procedure.
And I will not become a holey cheese!